Brayden Schenn

In 2009, the Los Angeles Kings selected Brayden Schenn with their first round pick. Formerly a star with the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings, and brother of highly-touted defensive prospect Luke, who was picked a year prior, Schenn possessed different kinds of skills that would encapsulate a top pick.

"When [scouts] talk about a comparable player in the National Hockey League, think Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers," TSN's Bob McKenzie said moments after the pick. "This guy is a complete package in terms of being a prototypical second line pro center in the National Hockey League who can do everything. Offense, defense, and most importantly, winning hockey."

Fast forward to 2014. After scoring his first NHL goal at the 2012 Winter Classic, and completing his first 20-goal campaign, the now-23-year-old centerman has accumulated 94 points in his 204 games.Those numbers are good for a 0.46 points per game rate.

The Flyers are going to rely on a balanced offense this season with the woes coming on the back-end. How fast the offense can start up this season will be key.

The first month of the season won’t be easy either. The Flyers begin their first week with back-to-back games in Boston on Wednesday and home on Thursday against New Jersey. The rest of the month is harder than running the gauntlet with games against Montreal, Anaheim, Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay. On the Devils didn’t make the playoffs last season, but were in the Stanley Cup Final two years ago.

The Flyers signed Schenn to a two-year, $5 million dollar deal just hours after trading winger Scott Hartnell to the Blue Jackets for R.J. Umberger. Signing Schenn was one of Philadelphia's top priorities this off season.

By virtue of finishing third place in the Metropolitan Division, the Flyers have drawn the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. The Flyers and Rangers split their season series, with both teams winning twice on home ice.

The Flyers continue their hot streak against some of the NHL's top contenders, a run that has come to a surprise.

Despite facing a barrage of shots, the Flyers penalty kill and Steve Mason hold off the St. Louis Blues, 4-1, in Philadelphia Saturday afternoon. It was the fifth straight win for the Flyers, who are 12-2-1 since Feb. 1.

“We’ve proven that we’re a good hockey team," Mason told reporters. "We’re beating teams that come playoff time you’re going to have to go through to the ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup. Guys are gaining confidence from this so it’s a good sign.”

The Flyers, and seemingly everyone else in the Wells Fargo Center, thought they had just completed yet another third period comeback.

With 40.1 seconds left and goaltender Steve Mason sitting on the bench for an extra attacker, it appeared that the Flyers had tied the game at two; however, the goal was immediately waived off by the referee who explained that the goal was disallowed due to contact made by Scott Hartnell with Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur.

After a review, the call stood and amid a chorus of boos, the final 40 seconds ticked off the clock and ended a disappointing game for the Flyers in which they dropped 2-1 to the Devils on Tuesday.

It has not been a fun year for new Flyer Vincent Lecavalier. Once a long-standing captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning, his contract became a boat anchor under a new CBA and a constricted salary cap. Thus, his time as a full-time Floridian came to an end.

Suitors abounded for this man's services after news of his release. Lecavalier, a first overall pick back in 1998, and once described as the "Michael Jordan of hockey," had a spot on many rosters across the NHL at a bit of a subdued monetary rate.

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren disregarded this, became the highest bidder, and signed a five-year pact worth $22.5 million. 14 goals, 12 assists and 49 games later, fan impatience hit a crescendo when he went long stretches with nary a point to show for it. In a time where nobody was scoring, Lecavalier scored five of his goals during that span.

There was some concern on whether or not Ray Emery and Andrej Meszaros would be rusty having not played in a while.

They both quieted those concerns on Saturday against Calgary. Emery's 32-save effort held the Flames to a flicker as the Flyers went on to win, 2-1.

Emery made his first start since Jan. 25, a 6-1 drubbing to Boston in which he was pulled. Meszaros found himself in the lineup for the first time in a few games despite the play of Erik Gustafsson, and earned an assist.

I tying goal in the final minutes looked eerily familiar to Tuesday's game.

But failure to get the second point in the shootout ended the Flyers bid at a second straight comeback win as they lost 4-3 to the Predators on Thursday. They walked away with the loser point, which dropped their record to 24-19-5 and keeping them in a tie for second place with the Rangers.

Getting that first point, though, showed the fighting nature this Flyers team has had in recent games. Third period comebacks have become a dangerous aspect of the Flyers recent play.